Stream Stabilization Practices

Virginia Stream Restoration &

Stabilization Best Management
Practices Guide
 Resources
• User Friendly:
– Virginia Stream Restoration & Stabilization Guide
http://dcr.virginia.gov/stormwater_management/documents/streamguide.pdf
– Maryland’s Waterway Construction Guidelines
http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/wetlandswaterways/mgwc.pdf
– U.S. Forest Service: Soil Bioengineering Guide 2002
www.Fs.fed.us/publications/soil-bio-guide

• Technical:
– NRCS National Engineering Handbook Part 654

– NRCS Engineering Field Handbook Chapter 16

http://wildfish.montana.edu/manuals/EFH-Ch16.pdf
 Considerations
• Goals and Objectives
– Desired Land Use
– Vegetation Compatibility
– Aesthetics versus Function

• Scope of the Problem

– Lateral Migration (Widening of Channel)
– Vertical Down Cutting (Deepening of Channel)
– Localize Scour (Scallop Shaped or Overhanging Vegetation)

• Planning & Design

– Private Engineer/Consultant
– Contractor Experience
– Cost Benefit and Financial Assistance
Lateral Migration (Widening)
Vertical Down Cutting (Deepening)
Local Scour
 Bank and Toe Protection Practices
• 1.1 Cedar Tree Revetments
• 1.2 Rootwad Revetments
• 1.3 Stacked Stone
• 1.4 Boulder Revetment
• 1.5 Rock-Toe Revetment
• 1.6 Live Crib-Wall
• 1.7 Interlocking Concrete Jacks
 1.1 Cedar Tree Revetment
Appropriate Uses:
- Localized Areas of Toe Scour
- Medium or Small Streams
- Used in Conjunction with Bank
Stabilization Measures

Limitation:
- Material Availability
- Wire Anchoring Must be
Installed Correctly
- Not for Streams with Vertical
Instability
- Sediment Loads are needed
 1.2 Root-wad Revetment
Appropriate Uses:
- Outside Bend
- Used as a Component of an Integrated
Bank Treatment
- Useful in Conjunction with Grade Control
- Useful for Localized Scour Areas

Limitations:
- Material Availability
- Short Life Span
- Not Always Aesthetically Pleasing
- Smaller Streams Problematic
- Vulnerable to Vertical Downcutting
 1.3 Stacked Stone
Appropriate Uses:
- Highly Durable Bank Protection
Required due to Soils
- Stream Bank Slope Greater than 1:1
- Vegetative Establishment Low or
Undesired

Limitations:
- Heavy Equipment Needed
- Solid Stones Preferred
- Solid Stone Difficult to Find
- High Cost
 1.4 Boulder Revetment
Appropriate Uses:
- Rigid Toe Protection Desired
- Local Supply Available
- Toe Protection in Integrated
Bank Treatment
- Toe of Steep Stream Banks

Limitations:
- Heavy Equipment
- Smaller Streams may be Constricted
- Higher Costs than 1.5 Rock Toe Revetments
 1.5 Rock Toe Revetment
Appropriate Uses:
- Rigid Toe Protection Desired
- Toe Protection in Integrated Bank Treatment
- Easy Assess for Dump Truck

Limitations:
- Not used on Actively Incising Streams
- Not Aesthetically Pleasing
 1.6 Live Crib-Wall
Appropriate Uses:
- Steep Bank Slopes are Required
- Both Structural and Vegetative Practice
Required
- Stabilize Toe of Cut or Fill Slopes

Limitations:
- Maximum Height of 7-8 Vertical Feet
- Not for Large Earth Stresses
- Requires Additional Toe Protection
- Accessible to Equipment
- Suitable to Vegetation Growth
- Requires Successful Establishment of
Vegetation
 1.7 Interlocking Concrete Jacks
Appropriate Uses:
- Permanent Rigid Toe Protection
- Toe Protection Integrated with Bank Treatment
- Site limits Dump Trucks
- Can Incorporate Vegetative Plantings

Limitations:
- Units Break During Transport
- May Break if Impacted by Debris
- Accessible to Heavy Equipment
- Intensive Manual Labor
 Bank Stabilization Practices
• 2.1 Natural Fiber Rolls
• 2.2 Live Soil Lifts
• 2.3 Natural Fiber Matting
• 2.4 Live Fascines
• 2.5 Brush Mattress
• 2.6 Live Stakes
• 2.7 Branch Layering
 Stream Bank Stabilization

What Zone is
Eroding?
 2.1 Natural Fiber Rolls
Appropriate Uses:
- Toe Stabilization for Small Streams
- Aesthetic Treatment Preferred
- Toe Protection in Ponds and Lakes
- Can be Stacked
- Used in Combination with 2.3 Fiber Matting
- Used Above Rigid Toe-Protection

Limitations:
- Avoid Streams with Unstable Beds
- Vegetation Establishment Required
- Avoid Bedrock Streams
- Minimize Channel Encroachment
- Not used in Outer Bends
 2.2 Live Soil Lifts
Appropriate Uses:
• Rebuilding Stream Bank
• Stream Bank Fill is poorly graded
sand
• Internal Seepage and Sloughing is a
Concern
• As component of Stream Bank
Protection

Limitations:
• Fill Slopes Steeper than 1.5:1 (H:V)
• Requires Toe Protection
• Establishment of Vegetation Critical
 2.3 Natural Fiber Matting
Appropriate Uses:
• Stabilization on Graded Stream Banks
• Graded Banks with Slopes of 2:1 or less
• Upper Bank Treatment in combination with
Lower Bank Treatment
• A Component of 2.2 Live Soil Lifts
• Combined with 2.1 Fiber Rolls and 2.6 Live
Stakes

Limitations:
• Not for Large or Steep Fill sections
• Biodegrades over time, vegetation is vital
component
• High velocity and stress banks may require
Geosynthetic Slope Stabilization
• Straw and Jute Matting Limited to outside
active channel
• Should not be used where Livestock access
Stream
 2.4 Live Fascines
Appropriate Uses:
• Create Breaks on Long Slopes (Parallel to
Stream Flow)
• Combined with 1.5 Rock Toe Revetment,
2.1 Fiber Rolls, and 2.3 Fiber Matting
• Toe Protection in Low Flow Streams
• Used above Base Flow Elevation

Limitations:
• Rocky Soils, Well Drained Slopes
and Shade limit Growth
• Planted in Dormant Season
• Avoid High Flow Areas
• Stable Toe Slope Needed
• Not for Over widened Channels
 2.5 Brush Mattress
Appropriate Uses:
• Protect Slopes for Vegetative Cover
• Total Vegetative Cover on Slope is
Desired
• Slopes less than 2:1 (H:V)
• Slope Length less than 10 feet

Limitations:
• Not for Over Widening Slopes
• Requires Stable Toe
• Watering may be needed
• Installed in Dormant Season
• Drains needed if Seepage is problem
 2.6 Live Stake
Appropriate Uses:
• Stabilize Graded or Eroding Stream Banks
• Can be a Component of All Practices
• Stand Alone Practice on Slopes of 4:1 (H:V)
• Used Above Toe Protection

Limitations:
• Need contact with Water Table
• Planted Late Fall or Early Spring
• Vegetation Growth Slower
• Not for Shaded Areas
• Wet Tolerant Species Preferred
 2.7 Branch Layering
Appropriate Uses:
• Repair of Slumps Less than 4 feet deep
and 5 feet wide
• Repair of Gullies less than 1 foot deep
and 2 feet wide and 15 feet long

Limitations:
• 2.2 Soil Lifts used in Larger Areas
• Requires Stable Toe
• Vegetation Establishment Vital
• Not for Shaded areas
• Not Suited for Well Drained Soils
 Grade Control Structures
• 3.1 Rock Cross Vanes
• 3.2 Rock W Weirs
• 3.3 Rock Vortex Weirs
• 3.4 Step Pools
• 3.5 Log Drops and V Log Drops
Head cuts and Cutoff Channels
 3.1 Rock Cross Vane
Appropriate Uses:
• Grade Control of unstable stream bed
• To Direct stream flow towards center of channel
• Fish Habitat Enhancement
• To Narrow a over widening channel

Limitations:
• Accurate Understanding of Channel Morphology
• Sandy Streams requires filter fabric
• Large Rock Difficult in small streams
• Heavy Equipment and Skilled Operator
• Additional Foundation Design Needed
 3.2 Rock W Weir
Appropriate Uses:
• Protection of Bridge Piers
• Channels with widths greater than 40 feet
• Grade Control of unstable stream bed

Limitations:
• Accurate Understanding of Channel Morphology
• Sandy Streams requires filter fabric
• Large Rock and Shape difficult in small streams
• Heavy Equipment and Skilled Operator
• Additional Foundation Design Needed
 3.3 Rock Vortex Weir
Appropriate Uses:
• Useful in Small Streams where Cross Vane is needed
• Grade Control of unstable stream bed
• To Direct Stream Flow Towards the Channel Center
• Fish Habitat Enhancement

Limitations:
• Difficult to construct Parabolic Shape
• Litter and Debris may clog gaps
• Accurate Understanding of Channel
Morphology
• Sandy Streams requires filter fabric
• Heavy Equipment and Skilled Operator
• Additional Foundation Design Needed
 3.4 Step Pool
Appropriate Uses:
• Confined Channels with Slopes > 3%
• Grade Control requiring drops > 6 inches
• Connect two reaches with different elevation
• Backwater a culvert to provide fish passage
• Fish Habitat Enhancement
Limitations:
• Limited Design Guidance
• Sandy Streams requires filter fabric
• Heavy Equipment and Skilled Operator
• Additional Foundation Design Needed
 3.5 Log Drops
Appropriate Uses:
• Used in Small Streams where Step-Pool Required
• Streams with Slopes > 3%
• Where Woody Debris are natural grade controls
• For Small Erosional Gully Repairs to Provide Grade
Control

Limitations:
• Flatter Streams < 0.5%
• Biodegrade over time
• Barriers to fish passage possible
 Flow Deflection Structures
• 4.1 Rock Vane
• 4.2 J Hook Vane
• 4.3 Wing Deflectors
• 4.4 Log Vanes
• 4.5 Cut-Off Sills
When to Manage Channel Migration?

Obstructions?
 4.1 Rock Vane
Appropriate Uses:
• Deflect Erosional Forces from Stream Bank
• Deflect stream at upstream end of
meander bend
• Used in gravel streams
• Fish Habitat Enhancement

Limitations:
• Channel Slopes greater than 3%
• Accurate Understanding of Channel
Morphology
• Sandy Streams requires filter fabric
• Large Rock Difficult in small streams
• Heavy Equipment and Skilled Operator
• Additional Foundation Design Needed
 4.2 J-Hook Vane
Appropriate Uses:
• Deflect Erosional Forces from Stream Bank
• Deflect stream at upstream end of meander bend
• Used in gravel streams
• Fish Habitat Enhancement

Limitations:
• Spans more than half the Channel width
• Problematic in Deep Channels
• Accurate Understanding of Channel Morphology
• Sandy Streams requires filter fabric
• Large Rock Difficult in small streams
• Heavy Equipment and Skilled Operator
• Additional Foundation Design Needed
 4.3 Wing Deflector
Appropriate Uses:
• Overly Wide Base Flow Channel
• Increased Depth and flow velocity desired
• Provides Meanders in Straight Gravel Channels
• Channel Slopes < 3%
• Stable Channels with no Defined Base Flow
Channel

Limitations:
• Large Sediment and Debris Loads
• Not useful in Bedrock Channels with no
Scour Pool potential
• Proper Analysis needed to prevent
adjacent stream bank erosion
 4.4 Log Vane
Appropriate Uses:
• Deflect Erosional Forces from Stream Bank
• Useful in sandy/ silty stream with a desire
for woody debris
• Fish Habitat Enhancement

Limitations:
• Not used in Channel Slopes > 3%
• Limited Lengths, may not be suitable in larger
streams
• Degrades over time and may need replacement
• Accurate Understanding of Channel Morphology
 4.5 Cut-Off Sills
Appropriate Uses:
• Overly Wide Base Flow Channel
• Straight or riffle sections of Gravel Channels
• Channel Slopes < 3%
• Stable Channels with no Defined Base Flow Channel
• Linear Deflector defines edge of sill
• Vegetative Sill used in sandy streams

Limitations:
• Ineffective in Bedrock Channels
• Requires sediment load to
encourage deposition behind sills
 Temporary Flow Diversion
• 5.1 Pump-Around Diversion
• 5.2 Sandbag/Stone Diversion
• 5.3 Diversion Pipe
• 5.4 Portable Dams/Barriers
• 5.5 Temporary Diversion Channel
 5.1 Pump-Around Diversion
Appropriate Uses:
• Where a Segment needs to be dewatered
• Wateshed less than 1 square mile

Limitations:
• Stream Flow determines Pump Capacity
and Height of Barriers
• Pumps can Break
• Storm Surges
 5.2 Sandbag/Stone Diversion
Appropriate Uses:
• To construct or repair small localized areas
of stream bank and bed

Limitations:
• Smaller Area of Stream access
• May Fail during Storm Surges
• Best for small channels
 5.3 Diversion Pipe
Appropriate Uses:
• Where a Segment needs to be
dewatered
• When Flow Required to divert is small
• Watershed less than 1 square mile

Limitations:
• Can reduce equipment access and
maneuverability
• Difficult to use with Grade Control
Structures
• Difficult to Adjust Pipe after Installation
 5.4 Portable Dam/Barrier
Appropriate Uses:
• Use in Larger Rivers with depths up to 7 ft
• Alternative to 5.2 Stone or Sandbag
• When conditions of dewatering
encourage use of alternative

Limitations:
• Difficult to Adjust after Installation
 5.5 Temporary Diversion Channel
Appropriate Uses:
• When entire stream channel needs to be
dewatered
• When Stream Flow diverted cannot be done
with a pump or pipe
• When adequate floodplain width is available

Limitations:
• Cannot be adjusted or moved
• May reduce equipment access and
maneuverability
• May not be practical in Large Channels
 Riparian Forested Buffer
• Is a natural Filter located between upland
landscape and waterways.

• Is an area of land that is maintained to protect

stream banks and improves water quality

• This Best Management Practice (BMP) is

cornerstone for long term protection of the
Chesapeake Bay and Forest is the natural cover
for most streams in this region.
 Riparian Management
• Zone 1: Protection Zone
– The area adjacent to the stream bank or edge of water
– No Disturbance zone with minimum maintenance to control invasive
species and remove snags

• Zone 2: Management Zone

– The transition area from open turf or pavement to forest
– Minor Maintenance to control invasive species and permit passive
recreation

• Zone 3: Erosion Control Zone

– The area of managed turf adjacent to the forested buffer
– Higher Maintenance to maintain uniform, mature turf that can inhibit
erosion
Riparian Management
 Forested Buffer Benefits
• Stabilize and Protect the Stream Bank from Channel
Erosion
• Protects the Floodplain by preventing cutoff channels
• Reduce Sediment Loads from surface runoff and flood
flows
• Capture and Filter Surface Runoff
• Intercept and Process Air Pollutants
• Provides Shade and Regulates Stream Temperatures
• Provides Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat
 Costs

Cost for a 500 linear foot Project

*Does not include additional Labor Costs for Plantings